The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-13

HOME READINGS.
abraham pleading for Scaom Gen xviii: 1888
The intercesson of Judah. Gen Xiv: 1881
Ihe intercession of Moses .Exod xxi: ll-35
ne intercession of Samuel ...- L Sam. vii LIZ
The intercession OF David Sam xiv 1925
The intercession of Christ John xvii: leo
me intercession of the Spirit Rom. viii 10 %
:. Golden Tsxt-In wrath remember mercy.-Heb.
iii, q
Time-lS98 our Bible margins declare Fiji
teen or sixteen years after the lesson of o week
ago. These were years eventful in Abrams
history. Read chapters xvi and xvii before read.
ing chapter xviii from its opening verse. Rural
life WAS. in his case, UNNECESSARILY entertain
ing.
Locality-Abram still dwet at Hebron, twenty
miles south of Jerusalem. and 1900 feet above
err taste. and called his country home the Oaks
Of Mamra
Between Lessons-t1) Ishmael's BIRTH 1913 B.
G. This WAS not the one Of PROMISE but the re-
suit of the concession of faithful and disap-
pointed wife to the taunts and exactions of an
almost frenzied. because chdless, husband.
Chapter xvi is to Us 4 curiosity indeed.
~ The Lord appeared unto Abram
for the fifth time with his great and
assuring promise. Abram. high father, was
by Gods order at this time changed to Abraham,
father of o multitude. Sarai. too, by the same
authority was changed to Sarah princess xvii,
5. Is. t3.) The Lords sixth appearance to
Abraham. and his entertainment of the Lords
messengers The joint incredulity of the mar
ried pair when divinely treasured of the birth of
a son. the child Of promise. xviii H. II. So
dom divinely investigated, xviii, 1922 The
covenant OF circumcision was instituted xvii, 10.
This covenant humanity ratified. xvii, 1927
ntroduction.-Fifteen not unevenrful years in
the life of this distinguished patriarch have
1a~ IS
Abrahams life had, during this period, proved
the practicabiity Of continuous faith in God.
He did remarkable work in these years, but
he was the recipient of some remarkable atten-
tons His days were passed in communion
with God. and so in preparation for his real life
work. Doubtless Abraham's greatest work was
accomplished by quiet, obedient, faithful prepa
ration for work. He in every age who constructs
the greatest enterprise is the one who makes
such a construction possible.
THIS LESSON PRACTICALLY APPLIED.
L We too should pray for others-1 Abra-
ham not Only prayed for Others but for his
enemies 2 Being man of righteousness, per-
feet in his generation anc walking daily with his
God. he had no trouble to successfully intercede
for doomed city Abraham's power cannot be
procured for less than braham's price. 9. We
should not only commune with the God we ad-
dress in prayer, bat we should study him. We
may innocently and justly plead for wicked men
up to given point, and then we must give them
up to the judge OF all the earth. When God
stops urging we may also. A. Doubtless Abra-
ham prayed for Sodom. not that the city might
be spared and its people continue in outrageous
transgression, but hoping for and 1aboring for
its reformation. Abraham knew full we'll that
naught save righteousness could exalt people
5. God in human form came to Abraham to listen
while he prayed for others. God incarnate
listened to an microscopy plea from a righteous
human heart for city of sinners lost Now
this God the SoI so pleads to the Father for
IL Abrahams character led to his success in
intercession-1. Power with God in prayer is
not readily secured. 1t is the achievement of an
intelligen: and holy lifetime. To amass this
qualification. however should be the supreme
effort of every soul during all the years of its
probation struggle This is life's greatest sue
cess. 2. Abraham's superio: character was
rooted in the perfection of his faith in God
When God made him promise. or appointed
for him trial. he accepted the promise suf-
fered unconplainingly the discipline. He sought
to know but will supreme. 8. Abraham,
too. loved his enemies Lot, his nephew, lived
at Sodom, it is true. but Lot was not especially
friendly to his uncle. Now. il one is unselish
enough to pray in faith and fervor for his
miles, he has the quality OF Christ's spirit. and
that avails. 4 Abraham prayed advisedly for
the people Of the doomed city. He examined
the divine will as he implicated it. His petition
| was an exploration He entered by degrees
into the councils of the Almighty. He reasoned
as he interceded- Character only can thus pray.
5. Abraham knew when he interceded for others
| sufficiently. He knew when Gods patience was
| about to be exhausted He refused to carry his
| microscopy plea too far. A bad man cannot be
prayed for as though he were righteous. Gods
| ear is open unto the cry of his children.
| Ill Abraham's motives for his intercession
were divinely APPROVED. He did not pray for
self glorifcation but wholly unselfshly for 9th
ers. He had no pecuniary purpose in pleading
| for Sodom that Lot might be spared. These
| men were no longer partners. Abraham's plea
| for Lot in Sodom was unselish. 2. Abraham's
| motives in his intercession we're fold: the
| glory of God in saving a large and noted city,
| and the good Of those for whose salvation be
| pleaded. For himself personally he was salts
| fed He resting with perfect reliance in
| God. 3. Abraham's double motive made him
strong with God. No man pleads at his best till
| he pleads for others. This Kind Of petition fore
! shadows the spirit ard work of Christ whe
| wrought not for himself but wholly for others
| f. Abraham in this unselfsh intercession an
| tagonized his instincts. Naturally he mus
| have been profoundly exercised by his migrate
| full nephew Sodoln, too he had doubtless
| often warned of tho terrible consequences O
such sin in Gods plan. 5. Abrahsm's interces
sion was in spirit like that of Christ. Father
| forgive them, for they know not what they do,
| was the substance of his plea. Not only tn
| person. but as we'll the spirit OF Christ prevails
with God the Father Who has the spirit o
| Abrahaml
/ Religious Notes.
Reprove only when you love the sinner an